Disappearing Act - The ancient town of Hasankeyf in Turkey

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Hasankeyf, a city overlooking the Tigris River in the southwestern Anatolia region of Turkey, prides itself on being the oldest inhabited settlement on earth. Local cafes have made the most of the opportunity provided by their location to offer stunning views over the Tigris and a medieval bridge. Jonathan Lewis

The ancient town now faces the threat of being flooded. The construction of the Ilisu Dam, officially designed to improve the economy in Turkey’s predominantly Kurdish southeast, would see the end to more than 6,000 years of permanent settlement and the relocation of 50,000 residents. Jonathan Lewis

Ancient and historical buildings can be spotted among residential properties throughout the lower city of Hasankeyf. More than 300 historical sites lie scattered in and around Hasankeyf, many of which remain unexplored and will be lost once the dam is finished. Jonathan Lewis

A sign of earlier times in Hasankeyf, even the door locks are made out of wood. Jonathan Lewis

One natural feature of Hasankeyf is its network of caves and pathways in the hills around the city. Jonathan Lewis

Firat Argun is a community advocate working to protect what he sees as not only the city where his family has lived since the 16th century but also important archaeological, natural, and anthropological landmarks. Jonathan Lewis

One of the 4,000 caves that housed the local population of Hasankeyf. Local residents lived in the caves until they were relocated to the lower city in the 1970s. Jonathan Lewis

An entranceway deep in one of the caves. Jonathan Lewis

Hüseyin Tekes, the birdman of Hasankeyf. Nearly every day he walks up the surrounding hills, so his birds can enjoy the mountain air. Jonathan Lewis

Freshly made flat bread at the local bakery. With relocations having started 100 kilometers (60 miles) downriver, residents of Hasankeyf are getting anxious. Jonathan Lewis

Despite the dam’s ongoing construction, the Ministry of Culture tendered for maintenance work on several historical sites last year, including the mausoleum and a medieval hamam, or public bath. Ali, a bricklayer from the nearby town of Batman, says: “I know that all of this will be flooded ... so I am not sure why I am doing this.” Jonathan Lewis

Local men bring stones with which to weigh down fishing nets they'll use across the Tigris River that evening. In July 2009, the dam’s fate had been in doubt after Germany, Austria, and Switzerland withdrew their financial support for its construction, citing concerns about the project’s social and environmental impact. The Turkish government quickly secured domestic financing for the €1.1 billion (about US$1.58 billion) project. Jonathan Lewis

The remains of an early medieval bridge that once provided the only passage over the river to Silk Road travelers still withstands the currents of the Tigris today. Jonathan Lewis

A minaret juts upward from the El Rizk mosque, built in 1409 (foreground, r.) near the remains of a medieval bridge that crosses the Tigris River. When the proposed dam is filled, only about the top 12 feet of the minaret will be above water. In March, a local court in Diyarbakir ordered an investigation into Hasankeyf’s cultural value and into the potential damage the dam might cause. The findings will be presented in a report by the end of June. Jonathan Lewis